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Mayor Dan Clodfelter was proud to salute some of Charlotte's youngest entrepreneurs when he gave remarks at Queen City Forward’s Impact U Demo Day today.

“Lifting up Impact U shows our city’s commitment to innovation,” said Clodfelter, “to a thriving entrepreneurial community, where everyone has the opportunity to imagine, explore, and create.”

Impact U is a 10-week summer program for college students with bright business ideas that connect them with coaches and mentors to help start their business. The demo day is a culmination of what they’ve learned over the course of the program, where they pitch their products to attendees of the event.

Some of the ideas from the students feature solar-powered cookers, self-esteem apps for girls, and insulation made from llama fleece and more.

For Clodfelter, Impact U represents a “critical component of Charlotte’s entrepreneurship and economic development strategy” offering college students “real-world engagement and entrepreneurial experience.”